Which Way to Turn?

You are flying the VOR-A approach into Salem Memorial (K33) in your Cessna 182. The airport has no tower, with Class E airspace starting at 700 feet AGL. The winds favor Runway 17. You dive n drive after the DME stepdown and break out at 680 feet AGL with the runway in sight two miles ahead. Do you (a) cross midfield and make left downwind to 17, or (b) turn right to the upwind leg for Runway 17 and make left traffic from there, or (c) turn left before reaching the airport and make right traffic for 17.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

IFR flights, including circling approaches at uncontrolled Class G airports, *must* adhere to the standard left-hand traffic pattern unless otherwise marked, contrary to a common pilot misconception confirmed by FAA interpretations.
This rule ensures safety by integrating IFR traffic with VFR patterns where ATC has no authority. However, ATC *can* authorize deviations at uncontrolled airports with Class E surface areas due to its jurisdiction in controlled airspace.
Pilot discretion for deviations from the standard pattern is highly restricted; "Circling NA" in one direction does not automatically permit circling in the opposite. The pilot-in-command is ultimately responsible for safely integrating into the airport's established traffic pattern.

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You are flying the VOR-A approach into Salem Memorial (K33) in your Cessna 182. The airport has no tower, with Class E airspace starting at 700 feet AGL. The winds favor Runway 17. You “dive ‘n drive” after the DME stepdown and break out at 680 feet AGL with the runway in sight two miles ahead. Do you (a) cross midfield and make left downwind to 17, or (b) turn right to the upwind leg for Runway 17 and make left traffic from there, or (c) turn left before reaching the airport and make right traffic for 17.

All three sound like reasonable choices. Each will enable you to keep the runway in sight while maneuvering for landing. If you choose (c) because, after all, you are IFR, you’re not alone. But you probably busted 14 CFR 91.126(b).